 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: xarkon
Date: 2010-05-06 18:15
I'm beginning to believe that I have entirely the wrong concept for working resistance - and am playing against much more resistance than I ought.
However, I am not sure I have the yardstick for what is "right". My teacher, who I believe is excellent (certainly the best one I've ever had, and a highly-skilled pro player at that), suggests that I need to search for a setup that is free-blowing, and that I'll know it when I find it. But I think I need a better physical idea of what that might be. While I will go through some additional work with her on this issue, I would like to get some more input.
Here's some data. Clarinet is a Selmer Signature, MP Brad Behn Zinner 104/35, reed Rico Grand Concert Evolution 3 1/2, ligature Vandoren metal.
I'm at 7300 feet. Teacher's place is at 6200'. The community band in which I play is at 5700'.
I returned to playing in 2001. Age 51 now. Despite some stretches where I just can't practice, I do usually practice 60-120 minutes four days a week. Always do long tones, sometimes for 15 minutes or so, then on into scales, etudes, solo assignments, etc.
But despite all this - and being in reasonably good aerobic condition - I cannot sustain a tone at ff or even mf for more than 12-14 seconds.
The bright side is that I have very good tone - have received several unsolicited comments on that from pros and amateurs alike.
I have tried some experiments. Using a much more open MP (Selmer C85 120 or Pomarico sapphire), and very soft reed (Legere 2; I don't have any cane reeds less than strength 3), I can exhale into the horn and easily produce a sound. (With my standard setup, I definitely have to BLOW into the horn.) Of course, the unfortunate part is that the pitch drops 10-15 cents. Maybe it's the softness of the red, maybe just that it is a Legere; I don't know.
So, I am looking for analysis and recommendations. But I need to solve this, because gasping for air every couple measures just isn't working, despite the fact that it sounds great.
Thanks,
Dave
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2010-05-06 19:56
Yes, at fff 14 seconds is good but you said mf as well.
The long tone exercise I espouse starts out at a whisper (relaxed emboucher; blow; increase support until sound kicks in) and increases to loudest you can go within count of 8 (at 60 beats per min), then decrease from there to nothing counting down from eight. This is 16 seconds with a lot of softer parts in it - so you decide if your breath is ok based on that (but that's a fairly strenuous exercise doing about eight reps or so).
I'm not familiar with the Behn mouthpiece but it doesn't seem too unusually open - you really should stick with something no more than medium open for a good concert sound.
Keep in mind you need to take a good, deep breath and your stomach remains OUT as you expel air (your abdominal muscles provide the push that gives you a fast, concentrated stream of air).
Other things provide resistance such as thick rails on your mouthpiece or a mismatch of a short cut reed on a long lay mouthpiece (or the other way around). Just some things to consider.
...................Paul Aviles
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2010-05-06 23:20
Paul wrote: "Keep in mind you need to take a good, deep breath and your stomach remains OUT as you expel air "
Please also keep in mind that this a rather a controversial statement, and is not the breathing technique used by all professional clarinetists. I disagree with mainly because I think that following a statement like that, without the guidance of a good teacher, will very likely lead to postural problems and too much tension.
But this is an internet forum, so you're likely to get all kinds of conflicting advice...
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2010-05-07 06:47
Ditto to liquorice. Allowing my chest and back to expand when I inhale, rather than "breathing at the diaphragm," greatly increases my capacity. Also better posture and less tension. It was for better posture and less tension that I started breathing this way, and greatly improved air support (my mf became ff instantaneously) was a happy bonus.
Lots of clarinet advice, even that passed on by very good teachers, is largely anecdotal. I highly recommend (and this applies to any pursuit) trying both what a teacher tells you to do, and what they tell you not to do (as long as what they tell you not to do isn't something likely to injure you... don't go holding a reed knife backwards or anything). If what they tell you to do indeed works better, then you will have experienced the difference and it will make more sense. If what they tell you to do does NOT work better, you have room to explore and, if they're open to it, to discuss.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: davetrow
Date: 2010-05-07 16:29
I like Larry Guy's "pledge of allegiance" postural advice: putting your arm and hand in that position illustrates the chest and back alignment that promotes correct breathing.
Dave Trowbridge
Boulder Creek, CA
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Author: interd0g
Date: 2010-05-07 17:45
For what it's worth, I think your usual setup gives MUCH too much resistance.
For me the trick is learning to get the reed to the point where it blows freely, but high notes remain in tune and the sound doesn't become buzzy and overly harmonic-laden.
The other problem I find with excessive resistance is that a reluctance to speak will make some notes liable to fail to sound in a rapid passage, and tonguing is less reliable.
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Author: Dan
Date: 2010-05-07 23:16
I'm 53. I'm in great shape. Each week I run 10 -15 miles, swim 3 - 4 miles, as well as stretch, weights etc. Every Sunday I play soccer. This summer I'll race about six 5k's and seven Splash n' Dashes (ocean swim approx. 1/2 mile w/a 5K run).
I tested myself at fff and was able to hold it for the following
low F 22 sec.
clarion F 25 sec.
high C 21 sec.
15 sec. recover between each.
So, I'm thinking 12 - 15 not bad.
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Author: GeorgeL ★2017
Date: 2010-05-08 02:43
Live at 7300 ft; play in band at 5700 ft.
Can you sustain the tone longer at band practice than at home?
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